223 free bore measurements?

Just started reloading first batch of .223 on my new Dillon 550....
Primers went in purfect!!:;)
past up on the powder - waiting on the scale..
seating die set up perfect....
even played with the crimp die (dillon) just for gettin use to the press...

Does anyone use the Hornaday OAL gauge with modified case to determine free bore?
It seems that whenever I see recipes for 223 the OAL is a constant 2.260...(max for mags)
Does anyone consider shortening the OAL for 'jump' consideration?

Also, I picked up CCI 400 primers -
From my search, Fed 205M and rem 7.5 were the most popular. Any reason not to use the CCI 400?
Im using Varget with Sierra 69 g MK in front.
This for target shooting at 100 yds
Barrel is a Krieger 1:9 SS, - DPMS upper Lo-Pro, RRA lower

fed 205m and varget are sierra's "accuracy load" for the 69g MK. Pretty much the standard by which everything else is measured for NRA HP.

however, good luck finding the federal GM stuff. local sportsman's store has some for sale, wants almost $50/box for them. he's out of his mind.

mrawesome22-250

January 26, 2008, 08:44 AM

Take an empty case. Cut a vertical slit in the neck, barely into the shoulder, with a hacksaw. Barely seat the bullet you want to use in this case with your hands. Chamber this round in your rifle. Eject it with your hand covering the ejection port. Take it out and measure it from base to tip with your calipers. This will give you MAX OAL (over all length) for that bullet. In other words, this bullet is touching the rifling. Now you can experiment with different seating depths. I've found that my rifle usually gives best accuracy .030" away from the rifling. But you'll just have to experiment as to what shoots the best out of your gun. This method works very well and you don't have to waste money on a Stoney Point gauge.

Coltdriver

January 26, 2008, 12:55 PM

Regardless of how you determine your max col for your rifle chamber it is really important to make the determination.

Not all chambers are cut to the same spec. And the ogive on the bullet you are using will made a difference in what your max col can be.

W.E.G.

January 26, 2008, 01:04 PM

I prefer the Stoney Point tool.

see
http://www.larrywillis.com/OAL.html

redneck2

January 26, 2008, 01:23 PM

I cut both sides of the neck of the case with a dremel. Hack saw tends to crush the neck. File off any small burrs. Drill the primer pocket out large enough that a stiff piece of wire, pocket screwdriver, etc. can fit thru.

Seat a bullet too deep with your fingers, insert the case into the chamber, then insert the screwdriver thru the drilled hole, and gently push the bullet against the rifling. Tap the case with bullet intact out with a cleaning rod. This gives you seating to the lands.

This method works very well and you don't have to waste money on a Stoney Point gauge.
This is where you use the Stoney Point gauge that fits on your calipers and measures length to ogive. I use nail polish to lock the bullet in place, then save this as a dummy round for each rifle and bullet combination I use.

If you're shooting an AR, even seating out to max mag length typically leaves you a long way off the lands. Works well for single loading heavier bullets.

Canuck-IL

January 26, 2008, 01:28 PM

You can also use a cleaning rod and a couple of cheap rod stops to measure.
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=744854
/Bryan